2 day ride on the backroads in northern NSW organized through Mal McConnell Suzuki.
6 DR's, 4 DL's, one DRZ and a sacrificial victim on a BMW 800.
Don't have any photos sorry, but the dust probably would have destroyed my camera anyway.
First day Rathdownie ->Tenterfield via the scenic routes - dust - lots of dust.
The DL's did pretty well on the dry roads, not a lot between us and the other bikes here, the only place that gave the DL's grief was a section of dry clay with 1cm 4WD tracks pressed into it and covered with dust, speed was still pretty good, but ot was a lot more nervous on the DL's.
Damage on day 1, 1 BMW 800 with a big smiley face on the front rim, and one formerly showroom shiny DL 650 and rider. "It's just panel damage, it'll buff out" - sore shoulder and hip for the rider. This was a shit happens spill, 100m from where everyone stopped and he ground looped it on the last corner, the DL sent up a dust cloud for help. (Engine was running and the rear was spitting up dirt like crazy). Sorry Jeff, I think you screwed up there
The dust was really really bad for everyone but the guy at the front. *cough* *cough* *spit*
3 attempts on my life that day, didn't quite manage to stoppie the Wee dodging a roo, but real close, another roo that bounced about 3 m ahead, and a couple of black sheep. (Covered with soot from a burn) running across in from of me.
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Rain overnight - quite heavy
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Next day, the BMW rider heads home on the seal, the rest of us head for Drake via the Rocky river road.
The DL's are out of their depth on the wet sand and clay road, easy early on, mainly sand and the water has made the surface amazingly good - but the sand thins and the clay appears more often, bad rain gutters don't help. The DL's finally concede defeat, drop to the rear and slow the 'uck down. I don't know how the others did it, I had a TKC-80 on front and was having 'fun' far too often - no spills, but that was only because the front knobs meant I could drag myself back upright.
Another DL with damage, though this time no visible rider damage other than a small tear on the knee of his riding gear and some damaged side cases. No idea how many or if any DR's kissed dirt, the damned things are so quick to pick up that it's not as obvious as a DL.
Apparently there was another attempt on my life, one I missed seeing, a roo leapt a fence and tried to crash tackle me, but went over the back of the bike instead.
We send the DR's/DRZ ahead at this point but the the roads were drying fast and we were only loosing a little time between stops to regroup with no more spills.
Drake, and lunch, the DL riders decide we'll avoid humiliating the DR riders any more (yeah right ), and we split up, the DR's going straight over the hills to Casino (more mud expected) and the DL's will take "mostly seal" home. A nice 40k's 'mostly dirt' detour around Casino is very welcome - no dust and hard packed dirt roads.
I'm made to pay for having the front knobs on the dirt by following a maniac on a DL with decent tires both ends - one of the nice things about TKC-80's is that they start 'walking' sideways before they let go (on dry seal) so I at least knew when I was close to the edge.
We gradually split up and head from home, final run through the Lions road - "watch out for the weekend warriors in 4WD's and for the cows" yupyupyup.
=================
Quick summary, DR's and DRZ's are a lot better on dirt than DL's, well yeah, but again, the DL's could deal with the conditions - we just had to slow the 'uck down when it got nasty. I was probably the slowest bike there despite the good tire up front - some of those riders were amazingly good - but again, I didn't have a lie down either
BMW F800 rims are made of cheese - most of us hit the same culvert at the same speed, no damage.
There are few feelings finer than the one you get from riding past a large pack of (shiny/showroom) 1200GS's on a dirt covered and almost unrecognisable DL 650. (POSERS !)
The dirt covered DL also got me a wave through (and a big grin from a cop) on a mass RBT outside Canungra.
It was fun, and special thanks to Ross, who lead the ride.
Cheers
Pete
6 DR's, 4 DL's, one DRZ and a sacrificial victim on a BMW 800.
Don't have any photos sorry, but the dust probably would have destroyed my camera anyway.
First day Rathdownie ->Tenterfield via the scenic routes - dust - lots of dust.
The DL's did pretty well on the dry roads, not a lot between us and the other bikes here, the only place that gave the DL's grief was a section of dry clay with 1cm 4WD tracks pressed into it and covered with dust, speed was still pretty good, but ot was a lot more nervous on the DL's.
Damage on day 1, 1 BMW 800 with a big smiley face on the front rim, and one formerly showroom shiny DL 650 and rider. "It's just panel damage, it'll buff out" - sore shoulder and hip for the rider. This was a shit happens spill, 100m from where everyone stopped and he ground looped it on the last corner, the DL sent up a dust cloud for help. (Engine was running and the rear was spitting up dirt like crazy). Sorry Jeff, I think you screwed up there
The dust was really really bad for everyone but the guy at the front. *cough* *cough* *spit*
3 attempts on my life that day, didn't quite manage to stoppie the Wee dodging a roo, but real close, another roo that bounced about 3 m ahead, and a couple of black sheep. (Covered with soot from a burn) running across in from of me.
============================
Rain overnight - quite heavy
============================
Next day, the BMW rider heads home on the seal, the rest of us head for Drake via the Rocky river road.
The DL's are out of their depth on the wet sand and clay road, easy early on, mainly sand and the water has made the surface amazingly good - but the sand thins and the clay appears more often, bad rain gutters don't help. The DL's finally concede defeat, drop to the rear and slow the 'uck down. I don't know how the others did it, I had a TKC-80 on front and was having 'fun' far too often - no spills, but that was only because the front knobs meant I could drag myself back upright.
Another DL with damage, though this time no visible rider damage other than a small tear on the knee of his riding gear and some damaged side cases. No idea how many or if any DR's kissed dirt, the damned things are so quick to pick up that it's not as obvious as a DL.
Apparently there was another attempt on my life, one I missed seeing, a roo leapt a fence and tried to crash tackle me, but went over the back of the bike instead.
We send the DR's/DRZ ahead at this point but the the roads were drying fast and we were only loosing a little time between stops to regroup with no more spills.
Drake, and lunch, the DL riders decide we'll avoid humiliating the DR riders any more (yeah right
), and we split up, the DR's going straight over the hills to Casino (more mud expected) and the DL's will take "mostly seal" home. A nice 40k's 'mostly dirt' detour around Casino is very welcome - no dust and hard packed dirt roads.I'm made to pay for having the front knobs on the dirt by following a maniac on a DL with decent tires both ends - one of the nice things about TKC-80's is that they start 'walking' sideways before they let go (on dry seal) so I at least knew when I was close to the edge.
We gradually split up and head from home, final run through the Lions road - "watch out for the weekend warriors in 4WD's and for the cows" yupyupyup.
=================
Quick summary, DR's and DRZ's are a lot better on dirt than DL's
, well yeah, but again, the DL's could deal with the conditions - we just had to slow the 'uck down when it got nasty. I was probably the slowest bike there despite the good tire up front - some of those riders were amazingly good - but again, I didn't have a lie down either BMW F800 rims are made of cheese - most of us hit the same culvert at the same speed, no damage.
There are few feelings finer than the one you get from riding past a large pack of (shiny/showroom) 1200GS's on a dirt covered and almost unrecognisable DL 650. (POSERS !)
The dirt covered DL also got me a wave through (and a big grin from a cop) on a mass RBT outside Canungra.
It was fun
, and special thanks to Ross, who lead the ride.Cheers
Pete
